Accueil > Évènements > Séminaires et ateliers réguliers > Histoire des sciences, histoire de l’innovation > 2015/2016
Résumé
When Ronald Reagan announced his Strategic Defense Initiative (also known as "Star Wars") on 23 March 1983, European leaders were faced with several questions. First, there was uncertainty about just what kinds of technology Reagan might be envisaging. Second, there was the question about whether to support the American President despite strong scepticism about the feasibility and wisdom of the initiative. Third, there was a question concerning the likely sources of innovation and potential spin-off from research and development. This talk examines new archival evidence from the UK National Archives and discusses how UK politicians, in conversation and competition with European leaders, responded to SDI, focussing in particular on the politics of research funding.